Combination license plate cover and advertising device



Sept. 21, v1937. F. c. RoEssLER COMBINATION LICENSE PLATE COVER ANDADVERTISING DEVICE Filed Oct. 29,'1936 ,Hna A 'n :mwm

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Patented Sept. 21, 1937 UNITED smre- `vCOMBINATION ,LICENSE PLATE COVERAND v ADVERTISING DEVICE p I Fred o. Roessier, chicago, nl. ApplicationOctober 29, 1936, Serial No. 108,151`

7 Claims.

I I This invention relates to a combination auto mobile licenseplatecover and advertising device. The main object of the invention isto provide a protective cover of transparent material, which may beeasily and quickly applied to an automobile license plate, and which,preferably, is

provided `with means for carrying advertising matter.V

Another Objectis to produce a cover of the character described, which isa unitary, selfcontained device capable of being applied to alicenseplate withoutthe aid of separate fastening devices.

The cover protects the license plate against moisture anddirt withoutobscuring the license numbers.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an automobile license plate cover andadvertising device embodyingfmy invention, the cover being broken awayand partly in section to show the license plate.

Fig. 2`is a rear View of the license plate and cover shown in Fig. 1excepting that the license number and other matter appearing on the faceof the plate has not been shown on the reverse side.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View `taken in the plane of theline 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a' `modiiied form ofconstruction.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, on a smaller scale, of a modifiedform of the construction shown in Fig. 3.

In that embodiment of my invention shown in the drawing, thecovercomprises a rectangu- V lar front panel III, a bottom flange I I, sideanges `to the rear surface of the license plate I4 adja- 50` cent itsedge, and inthe embodiment herein p shown, said anges are provided withan inwardly directed rib IB which engages the concave rear surface ofthe rib I5 of the plate It. The flanges are joined to the front panelIII by curved portions I1.

(Cl. IQ -125) I n The upper flange may be identical with the flanges IIand I2 heretofore described, as shown at It in Fig. 4, or it may be madewider as shown at I3 `in Figs. 1 to 3. In the embodiment shown in Figs.lto 3, an advertising device I9 is secured; 5

to the ange I3 by any suitable means, as for example, by applyingacetone to the proximate surfaces. The device I 9 projects beyond theplate edge, preferably in an upward direction, and is intended to carryan advertisement, the

, car owners initials or any other suitable matter.

vThe form of the part I9 may be varied.

'I'he anges preferably will be formed so as to be complemental to theadjacent surface of the license plate, whether the plate is of theribbed form herein described or other contour, but it .Y should also beunderstood that a cover having plain or flat surfaced flanges willfunction satisfactorily and is comprehended within the scope of theinvention.

The cover may be provided with slots or apertures 20 which register withapertures 2| in the plate Ill to accommodate the screws used to iasl tenthe plate to the automobile. Some automobiles are provided with means`for attaching the plate by screws at the bottom to a horizontal bar,the bar having a vertically disposed strap ending in a hook whichengages the top of the plate. The strap extends upwardly in. rear of theplate. slot 22 in the advertising device I9, just above the upper edgeof the cover, to accommodate the hook which engages the plate asdescribed.

The celluloid'blank of which the cover is made is bent at Il in suchmanner that the flanges ineline toward the front panel and when thecover is in place on a license plate, the flanges snugly engage theplate, and the cover is retained in position without the aid offastening devices. Of

course, the screws by which the plate is mounted 40 on the automobilemay extend through the cover if desired, to prevent theft.

The invention is not limited to flanges of eX- act form and size asshown. Obviously the flanges may be made ywider so as to vmore fullyprotect the rear surface of the plate, if desired. It is also obvious,as shown in Fig. 6, that the lower ange II may extend upwardly adjacentthe rear surface of the plate I4 and beyond the upper edge of the plateso as to provide the equiv 50 alent of the advertising device I9, whichin the form shown in Fig. 3 is not .integral'with the flange I I but isconnected to the upper flange I3.

Changes may be made in details of construction without departing fromthe scope of my in- For plates so mounted I provide a 30 vention and Ido not intend to be limited to the exact form shown and described,except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. A cover for an automobile license plate comprising a front panel oftransparent materail adapted to cover the face of the plate, and ilangesat the edges of said panel, the material of which said cover is madebeing flexible and resilient and said flanges being inclined toward thefront panel to yieldingly engage the rear of the plate.

2. A cover for an automobile license plate comprising a front panel oftransparent material adapted to cover the face of the plate, and flangesat the edges of said panel, said anges having inwardly directed ribsextending parallel to the adjacent edges of the panel and adapted toengage the rear surface of the plate.

3. In combination with an automobile license plate, a cover comprising afront panel of transparent material covering the face of the plate, andanges at the edges of said panel, said anges being complemental to therear surface of the plate adjacent its edges and yieldingly engagingsaid plate.

4. In combination with an automobile license plate, a cover comprising afront panel of transparent material covering the face of the plate,flanges at the edges of said panel, said flanges snugly engaging therear surface of the plate and retaining the cover in position withoutthe aid of separate fastening devices, and an advertisement-carryingdevice connected to said cover and extending beyond one edge of thecover.

5. In combination with an automobile license plate, a cover comprising afront panel of transparent material covering the face of the plate,anges at the edges of said panel, said flanges snugly engaging the rearsurface of the plate and retaining the cover in position Without the aidof separate fastening devices, and an advertisement-carrying deviceconnected to the upper flange and extending beyond one edge of thecover.

6. In combination with an automobile license plate, a cover comprising afront panel of transparent material covering the face of the plate,flanges at the edges of said panel, said flanges snugly engaging therear surface of the plate and retaining the cover in position withoutthe aid of separate fastening devices, and an advertisement-carryingdevice connected to the upper flange and extending beyond one edge ofthe cover, said device being slotted adjacent to and parallel with theupper edge of the cover.

7. In combination with an automobile license plate, a cover comprising afront panel of transparent material covering the face of the plate, andmeans integral with said panel engaging the rear surface of the plateand retaining the cover in position without the aid of separatefastening devices, said means extending beyond the upper edge of theplate.

FRED C. ROESSLER.

